The Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC) said it has
replaced and reconfigured the 198 Smart Card Readers that were on Friday
burnt in its office in lbesikpo Asutan Local Government, Area of Akwa
lbom State.
INEC boss Prof. Yakubu |
Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chair, Information
and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), in a statement issued on Friday in
Abuja said that in spite of the incident, polls in the state would
proceed as scheduled.
Okoye said that the commission witnessed a fire incident its office, which occurred in the early hours of Friday.
He said that several sensitive and non-sensitive materials for
Saturday‘s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections were
destroyed including 198 Smart Card Readers, the printed Register of
Voters, 13 generating sets as well as several Voting Cubicles and office
equipment were destroyed by the fire.
“Fortunately, the ballot papers and result sheets for the elections were not affected and are intact.
“Acting on time, the Commission has been able to replace and
reconfigure all the destroyed Smart Card Readers and reprinted the
Register of Voters.
“With the replacement and the salvage of other items, we are pleased to announce that the election will proceed as scheduled.
“All registered voters in the Local Government Area are therefore
requested to turn up to cast their votes between 8a.m and 2p.m on Saturday.”
Okoye said that though the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, a report had been made to the law enforcement agencies and the Fire Service.
“We are liaising closely with both agencies to investigate and
ascertain the cause of the fire and if found to be a deliberate act, we
will ensure diligent and vigorous prosecution of those responsible.”
The commission according to Okoye also postponed the Nassarawo
Binyeri State Constituency of Mayo Belwa LGA, in the Adamawa State House
of Assembly to March 23.
Okoye said this was as a result of the death of one of the candidates, Adamu Kwanate, participating in the election earlier scheduled for Saturday. March 9.
“Furthermore, the Commission has been informed of the death of Hon.
Adamu Kwanate, who until his death was the member representing Nassarawo
Binyeri State Constituency (Mayo Belwa LGA) in the Adamawa State House
of Assembly.
“He was also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in
the same Constituency in the election scheduled for Saturday March 9.
“Consequently, INEC is compelled to reschedule the Nassarawo Binyeri
State Constituency election for today and the same has been
rescheduled to Saturday March 23, in line with Section 36(1) of the
Electoral Act (2010) as amended.
“The Governorship election in the constituency and all other state
constituency elections will, however, proceed as scheduled today.”
No comments:
Post a Comment